Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi has expressed desire that his forthcoming meeting with his Indian counterpart in USA on the sidelines of UN General Assembly session should yield positive results pleading that it will benefit both the countries. However, he clarified that positive response from India is vital to move forward.
Talking to media persons at the local airport here, he said that he does not attach high hopes to the expected talks in New York but added there exists chances of 'incremental progress' in the wake of meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister.
Reiterating Pakistan's sincere desire for normalising relations with India and reducing tensions between the two countries, Qureshi said that positive response from Indian side was vital to move ahead. He said that Mumbai tragedy was condemnable but added that we couldn't afford to remain standstill on this point and need to move forward. He said that Pakistan was studying the Indian dossier and will send its response to India within a week.
He said that Indian intellectuals and think tanks were raising voice for resumption of Pak-India dialogue process. Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had also stated that dialogue was the only way forward, FM said adding that the other option was dangerous and suicidal. He said that both the countries need to reduce tension and move forward to normalise relations adding that the same was vital for prosperity of the people of the two countries and the whole region.
He said that after heated statements from Indian leaders, Pakistan had summoned the Indian High Commissioner and had asked whether India was ready to honour the understanding reached between Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and his Indian counterpart regarding talks between the two countries on foreign secretaries and foreign ministers' level.
The Indian HC confirmed that talks would be held between foreign ministers after meeting between foreign secretaries, he added. To a question regarding reported Indian attempts to pressurise Pakistan through USA, he categorically stated that there will be no compromise on interests of the state and added that Pakistan will adopt a clear-cut stance on all issues.
Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Indian High Commissioner was summoned within half an hour after India's protest over Bunji dam and Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment initiative and added that Indian protest was rejected.
To a question on proposed train service between India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, Foreign Minister said that a conducive environment was needed to run trains. Hurdles in way of dialogue process were not created by us and there was need to remove these hurdles to pay attention to address longstanding issues, he said. Foreign Minister lauded the armed forces of Pakistan on their successful operation against terrorism. To another question, he said that engaging armed forces on both eastern and western fronts would not benefit Pakistan. Pakistan has a long-term strategy for lasting regional peace and the whole world has extended support to Pakistan, the Foreign Minister said adding that India should also respond to our peace initiatives positively.
Qureshi said that he had held two inter-ministerial meetings and also took Kashmiri representatives from AJK and the Indian side of Kashmir into confidence before the expected forthcoming talks with Indian external affairs minister.
He disclosed that small dams would be built in all the four provinces under a US $1 billion project with the technical and financial assistance from China. He said that frequent visits paid by President Asif Ali Zardari to our friendly country China had started paying dividends.
He added that ECNEC had recently approved Bhasha dam project, the biggest dam project after Tarbela. He said that all the big and small dam projects will not only provide much wanted irrigation water to the agriculture sector but will also produce hydel power to meet energy requirements of the country.
He said that past government ignored water requirements of the country and added that dam projects being undertaken will improve national economy, water availability, agriculture and bring prosperity to the growers.
He said that Benazir Tractor Scheme had also been launched under which 10,000 growers will be given tractors all over Pakistan through draw at subsidised price. Another project to help farmer induce mechanisation in agronomic practices was also in progress.
Foreign Minister, when asked whether the Swedish national and other foreigners held from DG Khan had links with al Qaeda, said that they all were under investigation and he would be able to say something on it once the investigation process was completed.
To a question on US agency Black Water, he said that it was not operating in Pakistan.
When asked about reports of giving land on lease to other countries and multinational companies, he said that no practical step had so far been taken on this proposal that was prepared by the previous regime. He said that the political parties and their heads including Mian Nawaz Sharif, Maulana Fazlur Rehman and responsible leaders of PML-Q had endorsed Pakistan's strategy to counter challenges.
The Foreign Minister said that Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) was a useful forum to create diplomatic space for Pakistan and added that it had helped us muster up political support from the rest of the world. He said that during last FoDP meeting in Istanbul, envoys from other countries praised for Pakistan's successful strategy against terrorism, and in addition to assistance for rehabilitation of Swat and Malakand, they also talked about help to meet energy problems of Pakistan through investment.
He said that UAE had promised to hold 2010 meeting of FoDP. Foreign Minister lauded role of media in shaping up national consensus against terrorism and added that foreign envoys acknowledged that democratically elected government was more successful in creating national consensus and was moving in the right direction to combat extremism and terrorism.